Steroid epoxidation

The Opening of Squalene-2,3-Epoxide Steroids are tetracyclic compounds that serve a wide variety of biological functions, including hormones (sex hormones), emulsifiers (bile acids), and membrane components (cholesterol). The biosynthesis of steroids is believed to involve an acid-catalyzed opening of squalene-2,3-epoxide (Figure 14-6). Squalene is a member of the class of natural products called terpenes (see Section 25-8). The enzyme squalene epoxidase oxidizes squalene to the epoxide,... 

Chlorohydrins from epoxides. Steroid epoxides are converted into chloro-hydrins by this reagent (benzene, 20°). The ring opening is of the usual trans, diaxial type conditions are so mild that side reactions observed with hydrochloric acid are avoided. ... 

Epoxidations. Steroidal epoxides are readily prepared at low temperatures with Cr02(0Ac)2. 

Recent syntheses of steroids apply efficient strategies in which open-chain or monocyclic educts with appropiate side-chains are stereoselectively cyclized in one step to a tri- or tetracyclic steroid precursor. These procedures mimic the biochemical synthesis scheme where acyclic, achiral squalene is first oxidized to a 2,3-epoxide containing one chiral carbon atom and then enzymatically cyclized to lanostetol with no less than seven asymmetric centres (W.S. Johnson, 1%8, 1976 E.E. van Tamden, 1968). 

The methodology used in the preparation of RU 486 (84) and other ll -steroids is shown. Conjugate addition of a cuprate reagent to the a,P-unsaturated epoxide (85) provides the liP-substituted steroid (86) stereospecificaHy (131). Subsequent steps lead to the synthesis of RU 486 (84). 

Another synthesis of the cortisol side chain from a C17-keto-steroid is shown in Figure 20. Treatment of a C3-protected steroid 3,3-ethanedyidimercapto-androst-4-ene-ll,17-dione [112743-82-5] (144) with a tnhaloacetate, 2inc, and a Lewis acid produces (145). Addition of a phenol and potassium carbonate to (145) in refluxing butanone yields the aryl vinyl ether (146). Concomitant reduction of the C20-ester and the Cll-ketone of (146) with lithium aluminum hydride forms (147). Deprotection of the C3-thioketal, followed by treatment of (148) with y /(7-chlotopetben2oic acid, produces epoxide (149). Hydrolysis of (149) under acidic conditions yields cortisol (29) (181). 

The most important oxirane, from an anthropocentric viewpoint, is probably squalene oxide (72), a precursor of lanosterol (73) and thus of the maligned but essential cholesterol (74 Scheme 87) 78MI50501). The cyclization of (72) to (73) represents nucleophilic tr-attack on oxirane carbon cf. Section 5.05.3.4.3(t)()), and the process has also been extensively investigated in vitro (68ACR1). Oxiranes are even more ubiquitous in steroid biosynthesis than had been thought, for a cholesterol epoxide has been shown to be a product of mammalian steroid biosynthesis <81JA6974). 

Steroids possessing an epoxide grouping in the side chain have likewise been converted to fluorohydrins. Thus, 20-cyano-17,20-epoxides of structure (19) furnish the 17a-fluoro-20-ketones (20) after treatment of the intermediate cyanohydrins with boiling collidine. The epimeric 5a,6a 20,21-oxides (21) afford the expected bis-fluorohydrins (22). The reaction of the allylic... 

The high degree of stereoselectivity associated with most syntheses and reactions of oxiranes accounts for the enormous utility of these systems in steroid syntheses. Individual selectivity at various positions in the steroid nucleus necessitates the discussion of a collection of uniquely specific reactions used in the synthesis of steroidal epoxides. The most convenient and generally applicable methods involve the peracid, the alkaline hydrogen peroxide and the halohydrin reactions. Several additional but more limited techniques are also available. 

In general, epoxidation of steroids with trans-anti-trans ring fusions leads to exclusive formation of the a-oxirane. Steroid Reactions lists examples of exclusive a-epoxide formation from 2-, 4-, 6-, 7-, 8(9)-, 14-, 16- and 17(20)-unsaturated steroids. Further examples of a-epoxidation of steroid 1-enes, 3-enes, 8-enes, 9(ll)-enes, 8(14)-enes and 16-enes have been reported. The preferred attack by the reagent on the a-side of the steroid nucleus can be attributed to shielding of the -side of the molecules by the two angular methyl groups. 

Several steroid olefins, especially A -steroids, do not give exclusive a-epoxidation. The a-oxirane usually predominates in the epoxidation mixture, its proportion varying from 50% to 90% or greater when either perbenzoic acid or monoperphthalic acid is employed. The claims that the ratio of a- to p-epoxide is high in compounds containing a keto group d or a j5-substituent at may be misleading since epoxidation of 17a,20 20,... 

The presence of functional groups on the steroid nucleus can affect the course of the epoxidation reaction thus epoxidation of 3/ -chlorocholest-4-ene (11) gives the 4a,5a-epoxide in 97 % yield, whereas the 3a-chloro group hinders (presumably sterically) attack on the 4,5-double bond towards the a-face of the molecule. The 3a-acetoxy function similarly influences the selectivity of the epoxidation of cholest-4-enes, a 53 47 mixture of the respective 4 , 5a- and 4jS, 5jS-epoxides being obtained after exposure of the 3a-acetoxy-4-ene (13) to perbenzoic acid. 

However, suitably located hydroxyl and acetoxyl functions can assist the cisoid approach of the peracid reagent. While 4jS-acetoxycholest-5-ene gives a 9 1 ratio of the a- and jS-epoxides, the 4a-acetoxy-5-ene yields the a-epoxide exclusively. The directive effect can be used to prepare and /9-oxiranes from A -steroids as illustrated by the epoxidation of (16) and (18). 

The stereochemistry of epoxidation of 5j5-steroids is changed from to predominantly a by the presence of an a-oriented hydroxyl group. The magnitude of this hydroxyl effect is less in polar solvents, as shown by the... 

In the case of polyunsaturated steroids the double bond nearest the hydroxyl function is epoxidized first. 

Many selective epoxidations are possible with polyunsaturated steroids. In general, oc, -unsaturated ketones are not attacked by peracid, although linear dienones react slowly at the y,5-double bond. Aw-Chloroperbenzoic acid is the reagent of choice for this reaction.When two isolated double bonds are present in the steroid nucleus, e.g. (27) and (30), the most highly substituted double bond reacts preferentially with the peracid. Selective epoxidation of the nuclear double bond of stigmasterol can likewise be achieved.However, one exception to this general rule has been reported [See (33) (34)]. ... 

Anomalous results in the peracid reaction are usually encountered when the resulting epoxides are particularly sensitive to acid. For this reason A - and A -steroid epoxides are difficult to isolate. The rearrangements... 

The synthesis of epoxides proceeds in the presence of a variety of functional groups and is also applicable to cyclo steroids. Halo epoxides, e.g, (45), can... 

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